Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room now if, after the crash:
- you hurt your neck and cannot move your arm or hand: have someone call 911 [1]
- you have an injury to the neck or spine with loss of feeling or not being able to move [2]
- you have a headache that gets worse and does not go away, repeated vomiting, slurred speech, confusion, one pupil larger than the other, or weakness, numbness or decreased coordination [3]
- you have convulsions or a seizure, or are very drowsy or cannot be woken up [3]
- you have trouble breathing, or severe chest pain or pressure [2]
- you have a fever and headache, and your neck is so stiff you cannot touch your chin to your chest [1]
Contact a medical doctor right away if your neck hurts and you have:
- numbness, tingling or weakness in your arm or hand [1], or tingling or pins and needles on one or both sides of your body [4]
- a sudden "electric shock" feeling in your neck and back that may go into your arms and legs [4]
- trouble walking, balancing or sitting upright [1] [4]
- difficulty swallowing along with the neck pain [1]
- loss of control over urination or bowel movements [1]
- pain so severe you cannot get comfortable, or pain that gets worse lying down or wakes you at night [1]
The NHS says not to drive until a doctor has checked symptoms like these [4]. A chiropractic office is not an emergency room.
Why does my neck hurt after a car accident?
In a collision the head and neck can be thrown quickly in one direction and back. That can strain the muscles and other soft tissues of the neck; whiplash is the name for a neck injury from that kind of sudden movement [4]. MedlinePlus lists muscle strain as a common cause of neck pain [1], and the NHS lists neck pain, neck stiffness and trouble moving the head among the common symptoms of whiplash, along with headaches and pain or muscle spasms in the shoulders and arms [4].
Those are possibilities, not a diagnosis. MedlinePlus also notes that accidents and falls can cause severe neck injuries, such as vertebral fractures, whiplash, blood vessel injury and even paralysis [1]. That's why the warning signs above come first, and why only an exam can tell what is going on in your neck.
Is a stiff neck after a crash normal?
It is common. MedlinePlus says that when your neck is sore you may have trouble moving it, such as turning to one side, and that many people describe this as a stiff neck [1]. Common is not the same as nothing. MedlinePlus lists neck pain caused by a fall, a blow or an injury among the reasons to contact your provider [1].
Some people feel it at the scene and some notice it in the hours or days after a crash, often when they wake up or after a day of sitting or driving. If you notice it, write down the day it started, which movements hurt, and whether anything runs into your shoulder, arm or hand. That note is useful at any exam.
What a first exam checks
A first visit for neck pain after a car accident starts with what happened: the type of collision, where you were sitting, whether you saw it coming, and when each symptom began. Then the exam looks at the neck and the areas connected to it:
- how far and how comfortably you can turn, tilt, look up and look down
- where it is tender, and whether the muscles are guarding
- orthopedic tests that load the neck in specific ways
- a neurological screen of the arms: strength, reflexes and sensation, which checks for signs that a nerve is involved
- whether pain or tingling travels into the shoulder, arm or hand
The findings decide what happens next. If the exam suggests imaging, a possible concussion, or a problem that needs medical specialists, the clinic refers you out, and you'll be told before any chiropractic care starts. For the clinical detail on neck sprain and strain, see whiplash treatment; if the neck pain came with headaches, see headaches after a car accident.
Why a dated exam matters
Your medical record is the written account of what you reported, what was found and when. An exam dated close to the crash records your neck as it was at that point, in a doctor's words, with measurements. Later visits can then be compared against it.
When there is a long gap between the crash and the first exam, the record has nothing to say about that gap. Insurers and attorneys read these records. The clinic writes down what it finds; it does not predict what anyone will decide about a claim. More: personal injury documentation.
Seeing the clinic
Get examined as soon as you can. An early, dated exam starts your record from the beginning.
Auto insurance, MedPay, PIP, and liens accepted.
Oakland Accident Care is a chiropractic clinic in downtown Oakland that sees only people hurt in motor vehicle collisions, with Dr. Ben Glass and Dr. Irina Velichko, in English, Spanish or Russian. The clinic holds same-day appointment slots for new accident patients. Not sure a chiropractor is the right next step? See which doctor to see after a car accident.
Ask for a call back
Leave a first name and number. We'll call you back within 30 minutes during clinic hours; outside clinic hours, first thing the next morning.
Questions
Why does my neck hurt after a car accident?
Is a stiff neck after a crash normal?
When is neck pain after a car accident an emergency?
Is this page the same as the whiplash page?
Who pays for neck care after a car accident?
Related pages
Sources
- MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), "Neck pain" (reviewed January 14, 2026). Read October 7, 2026.
- MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), "When to use the emergency room - adult" (reviewed July 15, 2026). Read October 7, 2026.
- CDC, "Symptoms of Mild TBI and Concussion" (page dated Sept. 15, 2025). Read October 7, 2026.
- NHS, "Whiplash" (last reviewed August 19, 2026). Read October 7, 2026.
This page is general information, not medical advice, and it does not diagnose. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911.